WCPSS 2026 Summer Leadership Conference: Full Schedule

2026 WCPSS Summer Leadership Conference Onward Together - Leading with Compassion and Courage

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

8:30am EDT

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

Tapping into Resiliency supports leaders in strengthening their ability to recover, adapt, and grow through challenges by focusing on what they can control and how they respond. Participants will engage in guided reflection, use a Circle of Control framework, and learn practical strategies—such as stress management, perspective-taking, and intentional connection—to build resilience in their daily leadership practice.

Speakers

Andre Collard

Senior Administrator, Office of Professional Learning

Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Fireside

Staff Wellness, Both

11:15am EDT

Phones, Screens, and Face-to-Face: Mastering Customer Care Everywhere

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 19

Customer service in the field of education means wearing many hats—concierge, troubleshooter, guide, and sometimes referee. This engaging session blends quick tips, real-life examples, and hands-on activities to support leaders in developing lasting approaches that make excellent customer service the norm—in person, by phone, and in virtual spaces.

Speakers

Susan Pullium

Senior Director - Student Assignment, Wake County Public Schools

Susan W. Pullium currently serves as the Senior Director of Student Assignment for the Wake County Public School System. In this role, she leads the annual enrollment planning process, including district-wide community engagement efforts, and oversees district level enrollment and... Read More →

Dr. Eric Chancy

Director of Student Transfers, Wake County Public Schools

Technology in education and counseling, reaching every learner, reaching every parent

Louis Ambrico

senior admininstrator, Wake County Public Schools

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 19

Leadership Development, Both | Staff Wellness, Both

11:15am EDT

High-Capacity Calm: A Wellness Reset for Leaders Who Carry a Lot

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 15

Educational leadership often requires leaders to move continuously from challenge to challenge while supporting others. This interactive wellness reset session provides leaders with practical strategies to pause, recalibrate, and sustain themselves amid the demands of leadership. Through guided reflection, mindset shifts, and intentional wellness practices, participants will explore ways to manage stress, create moments of calm, and lead with both strength and sustainability.

Speakers

Dr. Kendra King

Senior Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Wake County Public School System

Dr. Kendra Core King is a seasoned educational leader, author, and advocate for sustainable leadership practices. With more than 25 years of experience in public education, Dr. King has served in teaching, school leadership, district administration, and executive leadership roles... Read More →

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 15

Staff Wellness, Both

11:15am EDT

Weaving Support to Retain Beginning Teachers

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 13

Just like the weave of a piece of cloth determines its strength and beauty, intertwined supports for our Beginning Teachers are essential to grow their efficacy and job satisfaction for retention. Hearing from four varied perspectives in the BT support process (Principal, BT Mentor Coordinator, Alternative Licensure BT, and SPED BT) will provide actionable ideas to apply to schools of all levels.

Speakers

Rozanne Todd

Assistant Principal, WCPSS

Meg Kovacs

2nd grade teacher, WCPSS

Alicia Chin

Molly Todd

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 13

Staff Wellness, Both | Best Practices & Tools for Giving Feedback, Both | High-Impact Instructional Strategies, Both

11:15am EDT

Critical Procedural Update: Security Standard Response Protocol

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Fireside

The Office of Security is implementing an updated mandatory district wide Emergency Standard Response Protocol. This change in procedure will be initiated at the over the summer.

Speakers

Christian Yun

Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Fireside

Staff Wellness, School-Based Leaders | High-Impact Instructional Strategies, School-Based Leaders | Operational Services, School-Based Leaders

12:25pm EDT

The Whole Principal, The Whole School: Leading with Wellbeing and Belonging

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:25pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 17

Creating thriving educational environments requires more than effective systems or strong leadership; it begins with people. This session explores two essential, research-based dimensions of whole-school wellness often overlooked in school improvement efforts: the well-being of school principals and the sense of belonging experienced by students. Drawing on two qualitative studies in North Carolina schools, the researchers examine how principals’ personal, psychological, and professional wellness, combined with students’ sense of belonging, shape school climate, engagement, and achievement. Principals and school leaders are uniquely positioned to champion this work through daily practice, school culture, and strategic vision. This session provides practical tools, reflective practices, and real-world insights to help leaders cultivate schools where wellbeing is foundational for themselves, their staff, and their students alike.

Speakers

Dr. Jennifer Lecorchick

Assistant Principal, WCPSS

Dr. Jennifer Lecorchick is an educational leader and speaker who redefines the metrics of student success by centering wellness and academic excellence within school cultures. Serving as an Assistant Principal within the Wake County Public School System, Dr. Lecorchick leverages more... Read More →

Michelle Bell

Principal, Wake County

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:25pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 17

Leadership Development, Both | Staff Wellness, Both

12:25pm EDT

Rowing in Rhythm – A Faculty Voyage to Wellbeing

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:25pm - 1:25pm EDT

Fireside

Teaching at a high needs school can often feel like rowing against a heavy current. To reach our destination without burnout, Neuse River leadership works to ensure every member of the "crew" is synchronized, supported, and physically capable of the journey. This session will share how we created a comprehensive wellness initiative to keep our staff afloat and moving forward with purpose.

Speakers

Bonnie Mwanda

Neti Hopkins

WCPSS

Megan Corey

Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:25pm - 1:25pm EDT
Fireside

Staff Wellness, Both

1:35pm EDT

Pouring into People: Wellness, Connection, and Culture

Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:35pm - 3:45pm EDT

Room 15

In this interactive two-hour session, participants will discover intentional ways to build a culture of wellness that supports and strengthens school teams. Through engaging team-building activities, reflection strategies, and practical takeaways, leaders will explore how to “love on” staff members by fostering connection, positivity, and a growth-focused mindset. Participants will experience wellness-centered practices they can implement immediately to boost morale, strengthen relationships, and create spaces where people feel valued. This session highlights the impact of leading with wellness—not as an event, but as an ongoing commitment that sustains teams, promotes resilience, and builds a thriving school culture.

Speakers

Dana Penick

Coach Consultant, Research and Development, Camp Explore for Educators

Dana Penick, M.Ed., is an experienced educational leader andinstructional coach with over 30 years in education, serving as ateacher, administrative assistant, assistant principal, and principal. Shecurrently leads professional learning and coaching initiatives withCamp Explore for... Read More →

Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:35pm - 3:45pm EDT
Room 15

Staff Wellness, Both

10:10am EDT

If Only You Knew: Courageous Listening for Compassionate Leadership

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:10am - 11:40am EDT

Fireside

What becomes possible when leaders truly understand one another’s daily realities? In this session, central services and school leaders will engage in an authentic listening experience that builds empathy, trust, and stronger cross-system relationships. A small volunteer circle (10 ppl max) will model guided dialogue while others observe and reflect. Participants will leave with renewed energy, a deeper perspective, and practical inspiration to strengthen collaboration, community, and collective impact in support of student achievement, well-being, and operational excellence.

Speakers

Dr. Brooksie B. Sturdivant

Senior Administrator of Community Partnerships, WCPSS

Dr. Sturdivant serves as the Senior Administrator of Community Partnerships in Strategic Operations for Wake County Public School System. Having served in public schools for 26 years as a teacher, literacy coach, curriculum facilitator, and equity and intervention specialist, Dr... Read More →

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:10am - 11:40am EDT
Fireside

Leadership Development, Both | Staff Wellness, Both

10:10am EDT

The World Has Changed, Leading with Adaptability

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:10am - 11:40am EDT

Apex

Leaders today are navigating conditions that feel increasingly unpredictable and difficult to interpret—across sectors, not just in education. This session introduces a practical approach, drawn from the field of Futurism, to make sense of these shifts and respond with clarity and adaptability. Leaders will leave this session with: -A clearer way to make sense of the conditions shaping their work. -Ways to apply new ideas to a current leadership challenge. -Practical strategies for leading in uncertain environments. In these unprecedented times, mission and purpose continue to anchor the work, while strategies become more flexible and human-centered.

Speakers

Dr. Leigh Ann Alford-Keith

Senior Director for Innovative and Strategic Initiatives, WCPSS

Dr. Alford-Keith serves as Senior Director for Innovative and Strategic Initiatives. She grew up in the triangle and has been with WCPSS for 16 years. She earned her EdD from Western Carolina University and is also an alumna of Meredith College and UNC Chapel Hill. Her educational... Read More →

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:10am - 11:40am EDT
Apex

Leadership Development, Both | Staff Wellness, Both | Operational Services, Both

11:45am EDT

Section 504 Services: Effective Supervision and Support by School Leaders

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT

Room 16

This workshop explores strategies for fostering collective efficacy and joint accountability among school leaders and the 504 meeting facilitators they supervise. Through collaborative learning and shared decision-making, participants will delve into specific 504 procedures and case law examples to cultivate a deeper understanding of 504 service delivery for their site, which in turn will positively impact student outcomes, and reduce school-based parent grievances. Drawing on research and real-world examples, attendees will gain practical insights into building a balanced support mechanism to ensure that 504 teams operate with confidence and effectiveness. With this session, school leaders will grow beyond a basic understanding of 504 operations and learn how to tackle more low incident challenging events that may appear. This workshop equips leaders with the tools to harness the collective power of their 504 teams for sustained success in supporting the education of 504 disabled students. Attendees should utilize their laptop or iPad device to participate in this session.

Speakers

Joseph Man

Senior Administrator 504, WCPSS

Joseph Man currently serves as a Senior Administrator with WCPSS 504 Services. In this role, he supports 504 non-discrimination policy implementation, ECATS 504 data management, staff training, administrative consultation around non-discrimination challenges, and complaints resolution... Read More →

Pamela Baker

WCPSS

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT
Room 16

Leadership Development, School-Based Leaders | Staff Wellness, School-Based Leaders | Best Practices & Tools for Giving Feedback, School-Based Leaders

11:45am EDT

Home Court Advantage: Building a Winning Wellness Ecosystem

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT

Fireside

In the world of sports, the "Home Court Advantage" is the psychological and physical edge that makes winning more likely. In our schools, we often force teachers and staff to play "away games" by expecting wellness to happen in spite of the work environment. This session explores how to reverse that trend by building a Winning Wellness Ecosystem.

Speakers

Damien Smith

CEO, Diamond Dove Vitality LLC

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:45am - 12:45pm EDT
Fireside

Staff Wellness, School-Based Leaders

12:45pm EDT

High-Capacity Calm: A Wellness Reset for Leaders Who Carry a Lot

Thursday July 23, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT

Room 15

Speakers

Dr. Kendra King

Senior Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Wake County Public School System

Thursday July 23, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT
Room 15

Staff Wellness, Both

1:50pm EDT

Your Body Called - It Wants Better Ergonomics

Thursday July 23, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm EDT

Fireside

In this interactive session, participants will discover how small ergonomic changes can make a big impact on their daily comfort, energy, and overall well‑being. Attendees will explore eye‑opening statistics that show how poor ergonomics affects health and productivity, along with easy, practical tips for setting up a workstation that truly fits you. We’ll highlight the power of quick stand‑and‑stretch breaks each hour, share simple ways to reduce computer eye strain, and demonstrate safe material‑handling techniques to help prevent injuries. Attendees will walk away with actionable strategies they can use immediately to feel better at work and protect their body long‑term.

Speakers

Justine Henderson

Safety Administrator, Wake County Public Schools

As a Safety Administrator, my focus is on keeping employees and students safe and strengthening a proactive, risk-aware culture. I partner with schools and central service departments to ensure fire and safety compliance and support a safe working environment.

Annika Vecchi

Senior Administrator Risk Management & Safety, Wake County Public School System

With over 12 years of experience in WCPSS, I have developed a comprehensive perspective across both school-based and central services environments. I leverage this background to foster a strong, district-wide culture of safety. My work focuses on cross-departmental collaboration... Read More →

Thursday July 23, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm EDT
Fireside

Staff Wellness, Both

8:30am EDT

11:15am EDT

11:15am EDT

11:15am EDT

11:15am EDT

12:25pm EDT

12:25pm EDT

1:35pm EDT

10:10am EDT

10:10am EDT

11:45am EDT

11:45am EDT

12:45pm EDT

1:50pm EDT

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